January 30, 2013

Russia may Investigate Thin Bribery Case against Apple

BrightWire, a business-to-business resource for portfolio managers has posted a rather strange report this morning. The report is claiming that Apple organized a week-long seminar for Russian regional ministers of education and other officials, in charge of public purchases, in London, UK, during which the company will familiarize the officials with its products. The article discloses several names of regional officials and stated that the event participants will be staying right in the heart of London. The author noted that the timing of the trip was suspicious given that large federal government educational tenders for the modernization of equipment worth up to 66.5 million US per region would soon be conducted.

A representative from the National Anti-Corruption Committee said the case should be investigated in any case as if the trip was completely financed by Apple, it could be considered a case of bribery and if it was financed from regional budgets, the Russian Audit Chamber should look into it.

The report states that Apple commented that the company had financed the trips of trainers, but not officials.

BrightWire's source is listed as Moscow's Regnum, a news agency that covers news out of Russia and the post-Soviet states.

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